Tropical Storm Andrea: Rain but little else in Hampton Roads

Heavy rain in the Williamsburg area, but rest of region felt few effects, no major damage

(NOAA )

June 07, 2013|Daily Press

Tropical Storm Andrea brought a deluge to some parts of Hampton Roads for much of the day Friday, but most of the Peninsula was spared any major weather-related damage.

Rain from the storm system began in the area early Friday morning. According to Dan Proch , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wakefield, rainfall varied significantly across the region.

By Friday night less than an inch of rain had fallen in Norfolk and only 1.7 inches had fallen in Newport News. But Williamsburg received 4.87 inches of rain, Proch said.

“The rain bands were moving in such a way that the heaviest showers were moving north to south but they weren't moving east,” he said. “So the same areas were getting rain over and over again throughout the afternoon and evening hours.”

Wind gusts were limited on the Peninsula. According to the Keck Lab at the College of William and Mary, wind gusts in Williamsburg peaked at 19 mph. Gusts of 35 to 40 mph were reported in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Proch said.

A tornado watch in effect for the region all day Friday expired at 8 p.m. Proch said there were no reports of funnel clouds.

Overall wind damage was minimal with only a few reports of downed trees in Williamsburg and the West Point area. Proch noted those trees could have fallen as a result of loose roots from the heavy rain rather than wind.

Flash flood warnings were issued Friday for parts of Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, King and Queen, King William and Charles City.

Issues with minor flooding were reported in parts of James City. Portions of the shoulder of Route 60 in Norge flooded, creating hazardous driving conditions from standing water Friday afternoon. Proch said the Weather Service received reports of 6 to 8 inches of water on Route 60 near the Williamsburg Outlet Mall.

Flood-prone areas in the Chickahominy Haven neighborhood along the Chickahominy River also experienced some tidal flooding. Waller Mill Park in Williamsburg closed Friday morning after Waller Mill Reservoir began to rise and flowed across Airport Road.

In Poquoson, which is often plagued with flooding, officials said the storm caused no issues. Poquoson Deputy Fire Chief Mike Bryant said there were no reports of flooding or storm-related damage.

The Powhatan Parkway exit ramp in Hampton was closed Friday morning on Interstate 664 southbound due to high water, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. However, there were no other road closures or major flooding issues reported on city streets, said Fred Gaskins, spokesman for the city of Hampton.

In Newport News, there were also no flooding or weather-related issues reported, said Kim Lee, city spokeswoman.

By day's end Friday, Tropical Storm Andrea had been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone and rainfall had begun to taper off Friday night. The forecast for Saturday calls for a 40 percent chance of showers, with a thunderstorm possible in the afternoon. Rainfall is forecast to be less than a tenth of an inch.

10:04 p.m. update: An urban and small stream flood advisory for Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, James City, Gloucester and York counties issued by the National Weather Service has been lifted, according to NWS meteorologist Mike Rusnak.

Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, King William, King and Queen and Charles City continue to be under a flash flood warning until 11 p.m.

8:01 p.m. update: The tornado watch that was issued by the National Weather Service Friday afternoon for much of Hampton Roads was lifted at 8 p.m., according to NWS meteorologist Dan Proch.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Andrea was 45 miles north-northeast of Norfolk as of 8 p.m., according to the National Hurricane Center.

Storms that brought rain to Newport News are expected to continue across Hampton Roads, swinging through Suffolk, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, he said.

Newport News could see another half an inch to inch of rain, while the Southside could get a quarter to half inch of rain.

With the center of the storm over the region, Proch said winds speeds have slowed down some, with winds near the ocean reaching 30 miles per hour, while inland winds could reach about 20 miles per hour.

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7:42 p.m. update: The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, James City, Gloucester and York counties until 10 p.m.